President Donald Trump is preparing to launch a critical week of diplomatic maneuvering, aiming to broker peace between Russia and Ukraine through direct phone calls with both leaders. Following a four-day trip to the Middle East, where he secured over $600 billion in trade deals, Trump has announced direct phone calls with Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. The negotiations, slated for Monday, aim to end the ongoing war in Ukraine, which has claimed thousands of lives since February 2022.
Zelenskyy has expressed frustration over Russia’s delegation at recent peace talks, calling them ‘non-decision-makers,’ and is seeking renewed diplomatic efforts with the U.S. Meanwhile, the White House faces criticism over Trump’s trade policies, including escalating tariffs on nations that have not engaged in good-faith negotiations. As the administration works to address both the conflict and economic pressures, the outcome of these diplomatic and trade initiatives will shape U.S. foreign policy and global economic relations.